Article: Fire sweeps through Chelmsford landmark.(News)

Byline: Franci Richardson

A 68-year-old Chelmsford landmark was nearly destroyed as a three-alarm blaze swept through Laughton Garden Center, razing the barnhouse gift shop that was filled with flowers and decorations for the holidays.

"Oh God, this is terrible," said Charles Laughton, 60, whose late father, Cal, opened the three-generation store in 1934, using streetcar windows for the first greenhouse. "There's no reason for this. It doesn't make sense."

For Laughton's wife, Ellen, Sunday night's blaze was a cruel reminder of another fire that nearly broke her family's business 30 years ago this month.

"This is deja vu," said Ellen ...

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